Dispensing closure for collapsible containers with delayed-action, self-closing valve



July 3, 1951 L. GOLDBERG 2,559,070

4 DISPENSING CLOSURE FOR COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINERS WITH DELAYED-ACTION,SELF-CLOSING VALVE Filed Oct. 21, 1948 IN VEN TOR.

Y Lamb folaery ATTORNEY Patented July 3, 1951 DISPENSING CLOSURE FORCOLLAPSIBLE CONTAINERS WITH DELAYED-ACTION, SELF-CLOSING VALVE LouisGoldberg, Glen Cove, N. Y.

Application October 21, 1948, Serial No. 55,789

1 Claim.

This invention relates to new and useful im-v provements in a sanitaryclosure for containers.

More particularly, the invention proposes a new and improved closureadapted to be used on a collapsible container having a discharge neck.The new closure is characterized by a valve body integral with thedischarge neck, or removably mounted thereon. It is proposed that thevalve body have a discharge orifice controlled by a valve head manuallymovably mounted in said body. It is proposed that said valve head have apassage through which the contents of the collapsible container may besqueezed when the valve head is in an open position. An arrangement isproposed whereby the material of the collapsible tube which is in thevalve head connects with the material in the collapsible tube when thevalve head is closed so as to prevent drying out.

The invention also proposes the provision of a cork or other stopper forclosing the passage in the valve head for sealing the collapsiblecontainer. It is proposed that the factory supply the collapsiblecontainer sealed, and that the public pick out the closure beforestarting use of the contents.

It is contemplated to construct the closure of plastic or othermaterials.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a device asmentioned which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured andsold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

,In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of thisdisclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible container provided with asanitary closure constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2-2 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. but illustrated with thevalve in a different position.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a collapsible containerwith a sanitary closure constructed in accordance with still anotherform of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view similar to Fig. '7 but.

illustrated with the parts in a different position.

The sanitary closure for containers, in accord- :ance with thisinvention, is used in combination with a collapsible container l5 forholding tooth paste, shaving cream and other creams. collapsiblecontainer II is provided with a discharge neck [6 which continues into avalve body ll. The valve body I! has a top discharge orifice l8 which isof oblong shape so that the collapsible tube will discharge a ribbon ofcream. However. the shape of the orifice is optional and other shapesmay be used.

A valve head I9 is mounted in the valve body I! for controlling theorifice I8. The valve head I9 is in the form of a cylinder turnablysupported by a stem 20 at one end and another stem 2| coaxial with thestem 20 but located at the other end of the cylinder forming the valvehead. The stem 2| is provided with a small handle 22 by which the valvemay be turned. The stem 20 is provided with a radial pin 23 disposedwithin a arcuate recess 24 formed in the side wall of the valve body I!for limiting turning of the valve head through 90.

The valve head [9 is formed with a T-shaped passage 25. When the valveis closed the stem of the T-shaped passage 25 is aligned with the neck16 so that the contents of the tube communicates with the passage 25 andprevents drying out and hardening of material within the passage. Whenthe valve head I9 is turned to its open position the head of the passage25 aligns with the opening in the neck [6. The factory supplies thecollapsible tube with a small stopper or seal 26 in the top end of thehead of the passage 25 by which the collapsible tube is sealed closed.When the valve head I9 is in its open or closed position the contents ofthe tube is protected. A purchaser merely picks out the seal 26 with aneedle or other sharp instrument, and then the tube is ready to be used.

In Figs. 5 and 6 a modified form of the invention is shown which is verysimilar to the prior The.

form, distinguishing merely in the fact that the valve body I1 isseparate from the neck N5 of the collapsible tube [5. The neck I6 isformed with threads and the bottom portion tion is shown whichdistinguishes from the prior form in the provision of means forautomatically closing the sanitary closure 'a short period of time afterit has been opened. With this construction it i impossible for a user tobe annoyed by discoverin that he left the tube open so that the contentshas dried. Morespecifically, the improved sanitary closure includes avalve body 30 provided with a bottom threaded socket 3| by which it maybe threadedly engaged upon the threaded neck of a collapsible tube. Avalve head 32 is axially and slidably mounted on the valve body 30.

The valve head-32 has a stem 33 at one end which connects with an airdashpot 34 acting to normally urge the stem 33 in one direction. Thisair dashpot includes a perforated disc 35 connected with the stem 33. Aflexible rubber air control disc 36 is mounted upon the disc 35 and hassmall bleed openings 33 through which the air may slowly leak. A spring38 normally urges the disc 35 in one direction. The disc 35 is slidablein a chamber 39 which is supplied with air through an opening 40.

The valve head 32 is also provided with a stem 4| projecting from thevalve body 30. This stem is provided with a handle 42 by which it may bemanipulated. The stem 4| is also provided with a radially projectin pin43 which engages an L-shaped groove 44 formed in the Wall of a chamber45 formed in the valve body 30. The stem 4| is provided with a smallsquare section 46. A disc 4! is slidably mounted on the square section46. A spiral spring 48 has one end connected with the disc 41 and ha itsother end connected with the wall of the chamber 45. This spiral spring48 urges the valve 32 into a closed position. The valve 32 is providedwith a T-shaped control passage 49.

The operation of this form of the invention is as follows:

The sanitary closure is shown in its closed position in Fig. 7. It maybe opened by first turning the handle 42 through 90 so that the pin 43moves along the arcuate portion of the groove 44. Then the handle 42 maybe pushed inwards so that the pin 43 moves along the longitudinalpoition of the groove 44. This latter motion forced the disc 35 againstthe action of the spring 38. The air quickly passes through theperforations of the disc 35 and around the edges of the flexible rubberdisc 36. The closure is now opened and some of the contents of thecollapsible tube may be squeezed out at the users convenience. However,after a short period of time, for example a half minute, the spring 38will have moved the disc 35 back to its original position. By this time,the pin 43 reaches the arcuate portion of the groove 44 and then thespiral spring 48 turns the preferred embodiments of my invention, it isto valve 32 into its closed position.

While I have illustrated and described the be understood that I do notlimit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the rightis reserved to all changes and modifications comingwithin the scope ofthe invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described m invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by' United States Letters Patent is:

In combination with a collapsible container having a discharge neck, avalve body on said discharge neck and having a discharge orifice, avalve head mounted in said valve body for controlling said orifice, astem for controlling said valve head, resilient means urging said valvehead into its closed position, and means for delaying operation of saidresilient means for a short period of time, comprising a dashpot forholding the valve in its open position, a pin connected with said valve,said valve body having a groove in which said pin works for controllingthe operation of said resilient means in conjunction with the positionof the valve head as controlled by said dashpot.

LOUIS GOLDBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 797,471 Theyret Aug. 15, 19051,236,215 Schape Aug. 7, 1917 1,430,313 Millity Sept. 26, 1922 1,630,555Witt May 31, 1927 1,782,980 Ude Nov. 25, 1930 1,960,393 Otten May 29,1934 1,961,173 'Schutte et al June 5, 1934 1,976,867 Verge Oct. 16, 19342,014,066 Flagg Sept. 10, 1935 2,123,643 Wilson July 12, 1938 2,243,711Lamb May 27, 1941 2,328,010 Griswold Aug. 31, 1943

